Life & Family | Toys

It may seem like your entire life is on a budget these days, but you don’t have to let the economy put a crimp on playtime. Here are three toys for $20 or less that will put a smile on your kid’s face—and a little money back in your wallet.

Rainy days are right around the corner. What better way to greet them than with a one-of-a-kind umbrella? Color A Glambrella comes in a preprinted cheery design of sunglasses and hip accessories, along with six weatherproof markers for making a unique umbrella. $18; http://www.alextoys.com.

Now that your kid has rescued that creepy crawler from outside, what more can he actually do? The Bug Playground takes winged creatures from the grass to their own funhouse, where they can slide, crawl and move about like they’ve never done before. This action-packed environment beats the backyard any old day. $14.99; http://www.smartlabtoys.com.

Too much Facebook time in your household? Break your teen away from the virtual world with some old-fashioned board game play. 25 Random Things About Me lets players try to match fun facts on the game cards with their opponents by guessing yes or no to the cards read aloud. Whoever completes 25 things on their list first wins. $16.95; http://www.winning-moves.com.